Lake Street Staff
If you have any questions for any of our staff, feel free to reach out and email them or call our church office to speak with them. You can contact the church office at adminsec@lakestreetumc.org or by calling
715-832-6603
Staff
Jerry Morris began as Lead Pastor of Lake Street in July of 2017. Jerry Grew up in Singapore, where his parents were missionaries, and went to collage in Oklahoma and seminary in Kentucky. He and his wife Rebecca have been in Wisconsin since 1998. Before becoming a pastor, Jerry was a professor of Hebrew Bible at both the college and seminary levels. He is also the author of a series of young adult books set within the world of Arthurian Legend (The Squire's Tales). From both perspectives-Hebrew Bible Scholar and Novelist-Jerry believes deeply that we need less theological debate and more storytelling in church.
Jerry and Rebecca have three adult children: William, Ethan, and Grace.
Ellen has been working at Lake Street Since 1972. After graduating from UW-Eau Claire with a Bachelor of Business Administration, she received a call a few months following graduation that Lake Street was looking for someone special to manage the office. A Friday interview turned into the first day of work on Monday and Ellen has been here ever since. A lover of the beauty of the Chippewa Valley, she enjoys outdoor activities such as gardening, yard work, and taking short walks. She is avidly involved in bowling activities on the local, state, and national levels. Ellen and her sister, Marcia, own a small home on the east hill along with their two kitties, Peaches and Misty.
Aaron joined the Lake Street team in April of 2016. In his role, he manages and coordinates the ways in which Lake Street communicates with its members and with the outside world. He manages and oversees the websites, social media, radio broadcasts, and worship technologies. Outside of Lake Street, he is a media specialist for the Eau Claire Area School District. A native of Fort Atkinson, Wi, Aaron moved to the Chippewa Valley in 2012.
I bring to you many years of experience as an organist, choir director, and accompanist, and a worship and music coordinator of both traditional and contemporary music. Over the years of serving different churches, I've learned how important it is to listen and accept suggestions not long from other staff, but also from the members of the congregation.
Ben Kittilstad
Music Ministry
Ben Kittilstad serves as Music Ministry Associate at Lake Street, where he provides piano accompaniment and solos during worship. Ben has always had a passion for music and began taking piano lessons at age six as a student of our organist Edna Sahs and later became a student of Dr. Nicholas Phillips at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He stays immersed in music ministry in the community by playing at various nursing and assisted living homes.
Daniel Klingensmith